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| Premier of Nevis Hon Vance Amory during a press conference at Government Building in Bath Plains. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (May 31, 2006) -- Employment on Nevis has been on the increase and Premier of Nevis Hon Vance Amory credits the island's dynamic economy with activity in all sectors for the significant increase since the Concerned Citizens Movement led Nevis Island Administration took office in 1992.
Mr Amory's comment came during a press conference on Tuesday May 30, 2006 at the Government Building in Bath Plains. "In 1992 the level of employment in Nevis was in the region of 3, 300 registered employees. At the end of 2005 the number of recorded employees with the Labour Department was 5, 706," he said.
According to Mr Amory, the statistics of registered employees from the Labour Department confirm that there are 603 persons work in the Agriculture sector; 462 in the commercial sector; 814 in the Construction sector, 1,133 in hotel and guesthouses; 141 in restaurants, and 388 in the financial services and 278 in the financial sector including banks and some aspects of the financial services.
Mr Amory who is also Finance Minister disclosed that the Treasury had collected $94.6 million in annual revenue at the end of 2005 compared to $59.8 million at the end of 2001 due to growing employment and economic activity on Nevis was a reflection that there has been movement in all sectors on the island.
These [statistics] are actual annual revenue receipts: for 2001 the annual recurrent revenue to government was $59.8 million; in 2002 $64.3 million an increase of 7.5percent in 2003 $65.5million and increase of 1.8 percent; in 2004 $78.4 million, an increase of 19.6percent almost 20 percent increase and at the end of 2005 the annual revenue received by government was $94.6 million and increase over 2004 of 20.6 percent.
"That is a significant piece of information because while we are hearing that nothing is happening in the country, we are looking at increasing revenue, we are looking at increase in employment, we are looking at increase in activity in the economy generally, we are looking at improvements and people who are doing tertiary level training and those numbers are increasing," he said.
Regarding non nationals who are employed on Nevis, Mr Amory said at the end of 2005 912 work permits had been issued to non nationals including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Europe and Africa.
Mr Amory said the fact that many foreigners were coming to work in Nevis told a story but urged Nevisians to take advantage of the opportunities the CCM led Administration had provided for them.
"People of other countries are coming here to Nevis looking for opportunities and it also says to me that persons in Nevis who claim that they can't find opportunities for work may not be telling the whole truth. Based on the figures, we know the unemployment level in Nevis is very low, that people who are available to work the numbers are very; low and that is why this [work permits] number is really so high
"With the CARICOM Single Market and Economy more [foreign workers] is a possibility and I am sure people will come, once the freedom of movement of people becomes broader The one thing which is important is that people will come if they are looking for an opportunity and it is for our own people to make sure that we take advantage of the opportunities which are provided here for them so that they do not feel threatened by persons coming from outside of Nevis," he said.
